Machine for moistening cloth



Dec. 3, 1929. D. GE S SNER MACHIN-E FOR MOISTENING CLOTH Fi1-ed Nov. 26. 1926 a ctz'vv Ball 2/ am garnet? Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED srlrras DAVID GESSNER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS EACHINE FOR MOISTENING CLOTH Application filed November 26, 1926. Serial No. 150,750.

This invention relates to a machine for moistening cloth, an operation frequently necessary in the finishing operations thereon.

It is the general object of my invention to provide a machine by which cloth may be uniformly moistened and by which the moistening may be more quickly and easily performed.

Important features of my invention relate to the provision of improved spraying devices, and to the provision of suction devices associated therewith by which the water is drawn into the cloth and may be caused to thoroughly penetrate the whole thickness of the fabric.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter setforth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawings in which c Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation illustrating the construction and operation of my improved machine, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of one of the spray pipes.

Referring to the drawings, I will first describe the general operation of the machine. The cloth (3 is drawn upward from a fold pile 10 or other suitable source of supply, passing through a balancing or straightening mechanism 11 by which the cloth is smoothed out before delivery to a draft or guide-roll 12. The clothpasses downward from the in this passage it is subjected to the moistening action of the spraying device 14.

The cloth passes from the lower suction roll 13 to an upper suction roll 15, receiving in its travel the spray from a second spraying device 14*. The cloth is then drawn around a guide-roll16,'carrier or draft rolls 17 and 18, and a guide-roll 19, from which it is delivered to a takeup roll 20, where it may be convenientlywound up into a cloth roll B.

Any one or more of the rolls 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 18, 19 or 20 may be positively rotated, as may be desirable to draw the cloththrough the machine. Any suitable driving mechaguide-roll 12 to a lower suction roll 13 and nism(not shown) may be provided for thus rotating selected rolls.

Spraying device I will now describe the construction of the improved spraying devices which I have provided for use in my new moistening machine. For this purpose I provide a troughor tank 21 having a cover plate 22 with aslot or opening 23 in one side thereof. An over-flow or waste pipe 24 removes surplus water from the tank 21. Aspray pipe 25 extends lengthwise of the spraying device and is provided with perforations 26 (Fig. 2) longitudinally distributed and effective to deliver water in jets under pressure against a deflecting surface or baffle plate 27 suitably supported within the spraying device.

The water delivered from the pipe 25 and forcibly striking the bafile plate 27 in a great number of small jets, is broken up into a very fine spray or mist which fills the spraying device to a greater or less density and which escapes through the slot or opening 23 and contacts with the adjacent surface of the cloth C. The cloth is thus thoroughly wetted upon its outer surface and the moisture is very uniformly distributed thereover.

The suction rolls 13 and 15 are provided with perforations in their outer cylindrical surfaces and are connected to a suitable air exhausting device, so that air will be drawn inward through the perforations in the rolls. As the moistened cloth passes over the rolls, the air suction acts to draw the moisture into the cloth and to cause it to thoroughly penetrate the entire thickness thereof. The second spraying device 14 and the upper suction roll 15 may be omitted when desired, but their use is preferable, especially when treating fabrics of considerable thickness.

.Guards 28 are preferably fitted closely to the suction rolls 13 and 15, reducing the loss of air through the perforations which arenot in engagement with the cloth.

figure, the pipe 25 is provided with a T-shaped connection 30 to one passage of which the inlet pipe 31 is connected. The outer end of the connection 30 is closed by .a cap 32 and provides a recess for a purpose to be described.

A piston or scraper 33 is slidable in the pipe 25 and connection 30, and is provided with an operating rod 34 extending out through a cap 35 and stuffing box 36, and

provided at its outer end with a handle 37. y The piston or scraper 33 is normally seated in the recess formed by the connection 30 and cap 32 beyond the inlet'pipe 31.

During the continued operation of the machine, it is found that the inner ends of the small perforations 26 eventually become partially-closed up by the accumulation of dirt fabric and effective to draw the moisture into the cloth as it is moved away from said spraying device, thereby uniformly dampening the cloth, said suction means leaving the moisture in the cloth as the clothis removed from the machine; 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af fixed my signature.

DAVID GESSNER.

or sediment within the pipe 25. When this u occurs, the operator seizes the handle 37 and 'moves the scraper 33 back and forth along the inside of the pipe, thus thoroughly cleaning the inner ends of the perforations 26.

Having thus described the details of construction and the general operation of my improved moistening machine, it will be seen that I have provided means for applying a very fine and evenspray to the. surface of the cloth and also for causing the moisture to thoroughly penetrate all portions of the fabric throughout its thickness.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein shown otherwise than as set forth in the'claim's, but what I claim is 1. A machine for moistening cloth comprising means to draw a breadth of cloth through the machine under very slight tension, a device effective to uniformly moisten one face of the fabric as it is drawn through the machine, and means positioned at the opposite face of said fabric movable with said fabric and effective to draw the moistureinto the fabric, thereby uniformly dampening the fabric and leaving the moisture in the fabricas the fabric is removed from the 7 machine.

2. A machine for moistening cloth comprising means to draw a breadth of cloth through the machine under very slight tension, a device eflective to uniformly moisten 

